The Rainbow Sportsmen’s Club is having its annual free fishing contest Sunday, Feb. 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. on Brooks Lake in Cokato.

Raffle tickets can be purchased from club members in advance or at the contest for $1 each for a chance at cash and merchandise prizes.

There is a junior and senior class for the fishing contest and there will be a lunch wagon on site to satisfy your hunger needs.

They will have some free minnows and can drill your holes for you.

Bring out the whole family for some Minnesota fun and excitement.

Brooks Lake is located North of Hwy 12 on Johnson Ave N in Cokato.

Contact Dave (612) 670-1916 or Tim (320) 980-0460.

Howard Lake Fishing Derby Feb. 9

The Howard Lake Sportsmen’s Club will be hosting its 67th annual fishing derby Saturday, Feb. 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. on Howard Lake.

Prior to the derby, The Country Store in Howard Lake will have free heat factory hand warmers, coffee, cocoa, and cookies from 10 a.m. to noon. There is a limited supply, and they will be serving until it is gone.

Also, there will be a store door prize drawings at 11:30 a.m.

Additionally, at the derby, there will be drawings for a Ice Castle V-front fishhouse on wheels, a portable fishhouse, framed prints, along with other prizes in the raffle drawing.

For additional information, contact Denny Decker at (320) 543-2992.

Conceal and carry class at Waverly Gun Club in February

The Waverly Gun Club will be having a conceal and carry class Thursday, Feb. 21 and Friday, Feb. 22 at Waverly Gun Club, Waverly.

The contest will take place on the northwest side of Lake Francis, and there is a $5 entry fee per person.

There will be prizes for biggest walleye, northern, and bass  pays only on the largest of those three.

Also, there will be prizes for sunfish and crappie.

Additoinally, there will be drawing for cash prizes, and concessions will be available at the contest by the Kingston Lions Club.

COs bust angler with nearly 250 fish more than legal limitFrom the DNR

A conservation officer (CO) with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently netted an angler with nearly 250 fish more than the legal limit.

CO Shane Osborne of Evansville met up with Ronald Wayne Johnson, 69, of Carlos, as he was about to pull his portable fish house off West Spitzer Lake in Otter Tail County.

“I asked how the fishing was and he said he caught some fish, but it wasn’t that great,” Osborne said. When asked if he had any fish at home, Johnson said he wasn’t sure.

“He then asked if I thought he had too many fish,” Osborne said. “I said I wouldn’t know that until I counted all of the fish he had. He said I could follow him home and check.”

When Osborne visited Johnson’s home, along with CO Mitch Lawler of Alexandria, they found 22 frozen half-gallon cardboard containers, six plastic bags and several loose fish and fish filets.

The cache totaled 228 sunfish, seven bass, and six northern pike more than the legal limit. The fish restitution value is $1,560.

Thanks to an overlimit law that took effect in March 2003, the suspect, if convicted, forfeits his or her fishing license for three years. The person also faces up to $3,000 in fines and one year in jail.

Johnson is scheduled to appear in Douglas County Court in February.

Anyone witnessing a fishing or wildlife violation is encouraged to contact the nearest conservation officer, law enforcement agency or the toll-free Turn In Poacher (TIP) hotline at 800-652-9093. Also, #TIP is available to most cell phone users in Minnesota.

People should contact the Minnesota State Patrol or a DNR area or regional office for the name and phone number of a conservation officer in their area.

DNR announces aquatic invasive species training sessions for lake service providersFrom the DNR

This year, owners of lake service provider businesses in Minnesota can choose from 19 aquatic invasive species (AIS) training sessions offered throughout the state, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The businesses are required by law to attend AIS training and acquire a permit before being hired to place or remove water-related equipment from any state waters.

The law, passed by the Minnesota Legislature in 2011, aims to help prevent the spread of AIS between waters of the state.

“We’re expecting to work with many more businesses this year,” said April Rust, AIS training coordinator. “We are confident this training is playing an important role in helping stop the spread of AIS in Minnesota waters.”

More than 800 lake service businesses across the state attended one of the AIS training sessions last year and are now included on the DNR’s list of permitted service providers.

Most of the sessions occur in February and March to allow business owners an opportunity to attend training and obtain a permit before ice-out.

A listing all 2013 training opportunities is available at http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/permits/lsp/lsp-ais-training.pdf.

After completing the free, three-hour AIS training session, lake service providers must pass an exam, apply for a permit online, and pay a $50 application fee before a permit is issued.

The training sessions provide information about AIS issues and information needed to pass the test.

They also cover how to integrate AIS prevention strategies into business practices.

The permit is valid for three years.

Several sessions this summer will include an optional afternoon class for business owners interested in becoming trained in AIS decontamination.

These additional courses will be finalized and open for registration this spring.

Lake service providers include canoe outfitters, dock haulers, marina owners, dock/lift installers, boat or yacht clubs, irrigation equipment installers and others who conduct work that involves placing or removing water-related equipment from any state waters.

Visit the DNR website at www.mndnr.gov/lsp to learn whether or not your business needs a permit. To register, or for more information, contact Rust at april.rust@state.mn.us or 651-259-5706.

Applicants must have a valid Minnesota driver’s license, be enrolled in a natural resources or related program, and eligible to receive school credit for the position.

CO weekley reportsFrom the DNR

• CO Steve Walter (Waconia) set up several speaking engagements. Anglers were checked during the week having very good success on panfish. Illegal deer hunting complaints from last fall are being investigated. Calls on dogs chasing deer are being monitored.

• CO Jen Mueller (Hutchinson) followed up with a wetland violation from this past fall. A summons was issued to the contractor for the violation. CO Mueller assisted CO Oberg with a TIP call regarding an over limit of walleyes. Checks were done on anglers with no violations. CO Mueller spoke at a snowmobile safety class in Litchfield. CO Mueller also attended taser training at Camp Ripley.

• CO Brett Oberg (Hutchinson) reports a fairly steady walleye bite continuing on a Sibley County lake. Walleye are ranging from 10-20 inches. Enforcement action was taken for over limit walleye, angling with extra lines, and no angling license in possession. CO Oberg also handled a call where an otter was taken accidentally. Officer Oberg reports a few trappers are having luck with raccoons and muskrats in the area. CO Oberg also did armoring work at Camp Ripley. A talk was also given to the snowmobile safety class in Arlington.